Camellia

''
Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a
genus of flowering plants in the family
Theaceae. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in
eastern and
southern Asia, from the
Himalayas east to
Japan and
Indonesia. There are more than 220 described
species; almost all are found in southern China and Indochina. Camellias are popular ornamental, tea, and woody-oil plants cultivated worldwide for centuries. Over 26,000 cultivars, with more than 51,000 cultivar names, including synonyms, have been registered or published.
The leaves of ''
C. sinensis'' are processed to create
tea, and so are of particular economic importance in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, with the processed leaves widely sold and consumed globally. The ornamental ''
C. japonica'', ''
C. sasanqua'' and their
hybrids are the source of hundreds of garden
cultivars. ''
C. oleifera'' produces
tea seed oil, used in cooking and cosmetics.
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